Data processing cards

ABSTRACT

A system for registering and evaluating elapsed time comprising a time clock and time cards insertable within said clock. The clock includes means for marking the card on insertion therein with one or more mechanically readable entries in selected positions corresponding to the exact time. The card is read in a sensing mechanism including means for ascertaining the time differential between the entries and means for generating a series of signals corresponding to the time differential. The signals are fed to a counting means for summing the time elapsed between entries.

United States Patent [1 1 Anders [111 3,805,026 [4 1 Apr. 16, 1974 DATA PROCESSING CARDS [75] Inventor: Arthur Anders, Warmbronn,

Germany [73] Assignee: Gebruder Anders & C0., Stuttgart,

Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 169,222

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 6, 1970 Germany 2039081 [52] US. Cl. 235/61.l2 R, 235/61] R, 235/616 B, 346/82 [51] Int. Cl G06r 15/00, G070 1/06 [58] Field of Search 346/17, 60, 82, 85, 86; 235/616 A, 61.6 B, 61.8 R, 92, 61.12 R, 61.7 B

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,350,545 10/1967 Street 235/6l.12 R 3,388,403 6/1967 Gieringer et a1. 235/6l.7 B 2,476,717 7/1949 Findlay 346/17 2,755,995 7/1956 Black 235/61.8 R 2,983,443 5/1961 Robinson et a1. 235/61.8 R 3,030,013 4/1962 Moodie, Jr. et a1 235/61.8 R 3,109,088 10/1963 Lyner 3,241,151 3/1966 Logie et a1...

3,512,159 5/1970 Clark et a1.

3,541,575 11/1970 Weiss 3,644,712 2/1972 Goodrich, J1. 235/61.8 R

Primary Examiner-Thomas A. Robinson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Murray Schaffer 5 7] ABSTRACT A system for registering and evaluating elapsed time comprising a time clock and time cards insertable within said clock. The clock includes means for marking the card on insertion therein with one or more mechanically readable entries in selected positions corresponding to the exact time. The card is read in a sensing mechanism including means for ascertaining the time differential between the entries and means for generating a series of signals corresponding to the time differential. The signals are fed to a counting means for summing the time elapsed between entries.

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L ml a IIIIHIIIIIHHII DATA PROCESSING CARDS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to elapsed time evaluation systems data processing cards and particularly to time cards and the like.

The evaluation of such elapsed time records as an employees work time and payroll record has become a time consuming task. Recently automated equipment and data processing equipment (EDP) has been used to ease the task. Recently direct mechanical time recording devices have been developed which are linked directly to EDP equipment which provide automatic entry of an employees arrival at and departure from work. Such systems require a relatively large expediture for highly sophisticated equipment and are generally to expensive for most employers. Furthermore, such systems provide card records in EDP data characteristics which are not visually recognizable and do not provide a document which can be verified by employee or employer in case of a complaint or failure of the equipment.

There are also known Systems wherein time cards are imprinted with optically readable numerals of the type used for document reading in the circulation of checks or other forms of money. These systems are somewhat simpler than the aforementioned one although they too are very expensive and subject to frequent failure. Furthermore, this latter system requires precise handling of the card during both the imprint and readout stages since the registration of the magnetic characters with the printer and scanner is verycritical. These criteria are very difficult to obtain with time cards, since time cards handled over a period of at least a week and sometimes of a month are often soiled, frayed, wrinkled, or otherwise mishandled. Even in this system a large portion of the recording operation must be handled manually.

Apparatus for the interaction of the time card with both the recording clock and the sensing and evaluating devices are widely known, and experts in that field are familiar with those apparatus. Such apparatus are widely published, and in this connection reference is made to the following publications:

British Pat. No. 872,307, where sensing and reading apparatus are described,

British Pat. No. 866,918, where also a reading apparatus is described,

US. Pat. No. 2,476,717 disclosing apparatus for making calculations from a time card, and

German Pat. No. 950,701 disclosing a control apparatus.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means for storing and recording elapsed time data which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide data cards which are simpler, more versatile, and more reliable, and which can be made to cooperate in a simple system with simple EDP equipment. Particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide cards which may be used with existing equipment or equipment which need only be simply and easily converted.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a time card capable of being used over an extended period'of time without loss in accuracy or registration of the recorded data.

These and other objects are set forth in the following disclosure of the present invention as are its numerous advantages.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention a system is provided for evaluating of elapsed time comprising time cards insertable with a time clock which includes means for printing a mark or entry of a specific time when punched, the entry being made in a specific column corresponding to the day and a specific row in the column corresponding to the exact clock time. The card is shifted relative to the printing means perpendicularly to the time row so that successive entries are made on different lines. Sensing means will sense the entries and will traverse the card providing an electrical output signal indicative of the lapse of time between selected entries. The signal is summed and evaluated in a counter or other computer mechanism which can sum, evaluate, or correlate the information supplied.

The association of the punched entry and the preprinted predetermined position of the exact time on the card permits the sensor to produce a signal by scanning or running over the card, which card accurately and swiftly indicates the elapsed time. This only requires the correlation of the clock with the sensing device so that the rate of scanning can be related to the rate at which successive entries are made by the clock. Successive entries for given periods of the day may be varied and adjusted so that the entries between normal work interruptions can be made differently from other entries. The shifting of the printing mechanism and/or card and later the sensor can be predetermined. No shifting may on occasion occur.

Full details of the present invention will be found in the following description and in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. l is a data card of the prior art, and

FIG. 2 to 7 are data cards embodying the present invention.

DESCRIPTION In FIG. l a conventional time card 40 is shown representative of the type of card in use. The time card is used with a conventional time clock which prints on the card a digital entry of the respective time of arrivals and departures of a given employee corresponding to such functions as the work period, lunch periods, and coffee breaks. A separate column is provided for every day of the pay or employment period; in this case shown for an entire month, the days 1 to 15 being on the obverseface of the card and the days 16 to 31 on the reverse face. The exact time entries are printed in each column in incremental steps extending horizon tally across the card in rows 41 corresponding to a given time interval. For example the time intervals between each row 41 at the beginning and end of each work day may be one hour while the interval corresponding to the lunch and coffee break periods may be considerably less so that the varying arrival and departure times can be printed or entered on separate lines. The card 40, of course, cooperates with an automatic time clock in which controls are provided to either shift the card or the printing mechanism to enter the exact time the clock is punched in the correct column and row. Printing may, of course, be made from the bottom up in order to facilitate subtraction.

In general the space provided for the individual numerals 42 is so limited that the printing must be small. Thus, while they can be read with the naked eye they are not readable by automatic document readers. The printing is too small to provide the distinctive characters (such as line discontinuities, styling, shading, etc.) necessary for magnetic or optical scanning. Thus the conventional time card can not be used in automated equipment.

In FIG. 2 a time card 50 embodying the present invention is shown, wherein instead of printing the specific entry in digital figures only the control time clock prints a line 51, 53, or 55 at the respective row corresponding to the elapse from a base'reference line 52 of the time of arrival or departure. Preceding the first of the day columns is a column I in which the hourly intervals are preprinted in spaced vertical arrangement so that a visual control can be had by which to adjust complaints. The card or printing mechanism may be shifted between the hourly intervals in minute or group of minute intervals so that a more accurate entry of the time may be made precisely opposite the exact time struck by the time clock. The time card and time clock cooperate with means, preferably in the time card, to make each entry in each day column directly opposite to the preprinted or exact base line time noted in col. I, the means shifting either the card or the entry printer perpendicular to base time row so that successive daily entries can be made in each column.

In the card 50 of FIG. 2 the printing is shifted vertically within ranges of every 6 minutes, so that it will be obvious that the employee, for this particular card, arrived at 8 hours on the first day, and at 8:12 hours on the second day, while his lunch period was between 12 noon and 12:30 hours on both days. The employee departed work at 16:30 hours on the first day and at 16:42 hours the second day. He therefore worked a total of 8 hours on both days. Similar calculation can be made for each of the other entries on the other days.

The evaluation of thistime card can be made by means of an automatic data processing machine having a sensing mechanism capable of measuring spacial interval so that as the card is passed through the sensing mechanism a signal impulse is produced for each millimetre of card passage, the measure of signal impulses between the base line 52 and any one of the entires 51, 53, 54, and 55 providing the requested information of arrival, departure and work time, etc. The sensing mechanism can be coupled to the card transport rollers in a conventional way and include a synchronized impulse transmitter which may be provided with a magnet running past an electromagnet, or an aperture arranged between a light source and a photo or selenium cell, or a cam for activating a working contact.

An impulse transmitter is provided for each of the columns 1 to on the obverse (as well as for eachof the columns on the reverse). When a magnetic sensing system is employed the lines 51, 53, 54, and 55 are printed in magnetic ink which is magnetically conductive. If a photo or optical system is used the lines are printed in fluorescent inks or inks illuminated by special light such as ultra-violet light. The inks may of course include both magnetic and optical characteristics so that the card can be employed in data processing equipment of either type. The inks may also be electrically conductive and the sensors may consist of two brushes arranged in juxtaposition to bridge the line marking completing an electric circuit. The line form of printing or mark is thus expedient although other forms such as a point, an array of points or other symbols having defined edges may be used. The printed entry may also be made by punching or perforating the card so that tactile or optical sensing may be made with contact brushes or photo cells.

As soon as the impulse transmitter senses the first of the entries 51 a starting signal is obtained followed by a series of impulse signals corresponding to the time difference between it and the next entry 52 (or 53 or 54, etc.) at which time an intermediate or stop signal is obtained. The sensing device produces a series of pulses on sensing the odd ones of the line markings and stops the pulses at the sensing of the even ones of the line markings. The pulses between each odd and even marks are the elapsed time to be summed. The signals are transmitted to an associated counting device by which the time signals are added or otherwise evaluated to provide an indication of the total time worked during any two adjacententries. In the case of the card shown in FIG. 2, where the increments between marking rows are made at 6 minute intervals it is preferable that each impulse correspond to the increments and therefore 10 impulses to an hour or 40 impulses to 4 hours. The four hours between the first entry 51 and the next entry 53 in column 1 total 40-impulses.

The sensing system, particularly the counting device may be arranged not to sum or add the time between certain entries, as for example the lunch period and/or other work stoppages. Thus for example the time between entries 53 and 54 can be omitted from the count of working time. On sensing the third marking 54, indicating a return to work, the impulses are again counted and added to the total evaluation until the end of the work day indicated by the line marking 55. The four hours between line 54 and 55 are again counted as 40 pulses, and thus the total day's work summed as 8 hours. A similar reckoning can be made for the second and subsequent days. The break periods which are not summed are to be noted as lying between the even and odd line markings or entries. Thus only the odd to even entries are pulsed and summed.

A printing mechanism can be provided responsive to the counter and sensing mechanism, to print the total counted time for each column or for groups of columns or for any period. These totals may be entered in spaces below the last row of each column or in other predetermined spaces at the bottom of the card, so that a simple and easily visible read-out can be obtained. The counter may be connected as well or independently with electro data processing equipment of any type wherein complex recording, evaluation, and read-out of information can be obtained.

Because of the ability to sum or evaluate only between selected line markings or entries (as shown the odd to even) the present card can be used for piece workers, day workers, part time workers, etc., wherein selective successive work periods are entered in the card.

Another version of the present invention is seen in FIG. 3 wherein a card 56 is shown which does not require a separate impulse transmitter in the sensing mechanism. The card 56 is provided with an additional column ll having a plurality of spaced markings corresponding to the desired intervals or increments for accurate time registration. These markings are sensed by an additional sensor which produces repetitive or cyclic impulses corresponding to the time shown in column I. These cyclic impulses are forwarded to the counter of the evaluating mechanism, or receipt of a signal from the column 1 to sensors corresponding to the line entries 58, 59, and 60 which initiate or start an additive process for evaluating the time worked or entries 61, 62, and 63 which stop the additive process. Line markings 58, 59, and 60 indicate the start of the morning work period, the after morning coffee break period and the after lunch work period respectively. Since markings 61, 62, and 63 are respectively the entries for the start of the morning coffee break, the start of the lunch period, and the end of the work day. As in the preceding embodiment the coffee break and lunch period are not added to the working day. By correlating the impulses received from both sensors, (i.e., base time in col. II and the punched time entry made by clock col. 1 31) an evaluation and record can be obtained of the employees work habits. I-Iis lateness, absences, break periods, etc., can easily be obtained since the difference or divergence from the set time periods can easily be observed.

The counter and sensing mechanism are preferably provided with various means for synchronously and sequentially producing the pulses from the separate sensors and for deferring or delaying read-out or printing of the summations of evaluation until selected computations are obtained. Such devices are well known.

The card seen in FIG. 3 is otherwise the same as that seen in FIG. 2, having the columns 1 to 31 and the row by row entries of the time, by lines or other suitable markings made to conform to the sensing mechanism system.

In many cases it may be advantageous to provide every column I to 31 with its own column of markings for the cycle impulses. Thus as seen in FIG. 4 a card 64 is provided with preprinted markings 65 (of the type described in FIG. 3) in each column, next to which the specific entry 66 can be printed by the control time clock. In this case the sensing mechanism requires in addition to the entry sensor an extra sensor for producing the cycle" impulses. This card has a somewhat greater reliability over that seen in FIG. '3 since the control cycle marking and the entry marking are adjacent each other. A card which is used for an entire month may become wrinkled, torn, or frayed, and if the two columns are widely spaced registration may be difficult if not impossible.

The card shown in FIG. 4 has another advantage in that it permits a greater degree of flexibility in setting the dailytime pattern. Differently spaced time breaks, starting and stopping intervals may be made for each day. Thus as can be seen in FIG. 5 the card 67 has columns 68 and 69 of cycle impulse markings in which specific blocks 70, 71, 72, and 73 of markings are omitted entirely. The blocks correspond to the coffee break and lunch period for each of the representative days shown. Because the cycle impulse markings are omitted, the sensing mechanism will omit from the count of working time those intervals to which they correspond without the necessity of making specific time entries on the card by the control time clock. The time clock entries are made only at the start and end of the work day and the counter and EDP equipment will sum and. evaluate only the time worked during the prescribed arranged working periods.

Returning to FIG. 41, the time clock entries do not have to be line markings such as those suggested by lines 66. They may be holes or perforations indicated by the numeral 74. In either case the lines or holes may be supplemented by printing digital figures giving the exact time or other indicia. This latter is possible since sufficient room is generally left between adjacent entries in a column and permits both employee and employer easily check the entries by eye. Since column I is already preprinted with the hour the indicia 76 need only be in minutes.

In another version the imprint of the legible or visual indicia for the hours and minutes can be placed on the front or obverse side of the card while the indicia for automatic or machine reading can be placed on the reverse side, or vice versa. This is possible because of the simple form of marking apparatus and color ribbon apparatus required.

In FIG. 6 the card 77 illustrates a situation where the coffee breaks, lunch period, and other interruptions in the work day are taken into account without the necessity of making an entry by the time clock. Thus only the beginning and end of the work day is entered. Here the premarking of the control cycle time is not necessarily possible nor can corresponding impulses be provided. It is therefore necessary to supplement the entries with printed indicia 76 showing the exact time.

The time card usually contains textual information identifying the employee, the working department and the factory or working site for example. Normally this information is entered into the EDP unit separately. The present invention makes it possible to have this information entered automatically by machine reading at only a small additional cost. As seen in FIG. 7 the card 79 is provided with an upper border or head portion 86 in which the name, etc., of the employee may be manually inserted, and below which are a plurality of columns corresponding to columns I, II, and I to I55, etc. In these head columns markings for various information may be stored in Alpha-Numeric system. As for example markings 81 to 87 may be used to designate the employees name, markings 88 to 96 his work identification number, and 91 to 93 the work department. Each of the columns arranged above columns 1 to 7 may contain 25 preprinted code markings representing the alphabet. The line markings 81 to 67 designating the specific one of the 25 encoded letters of the employees name. The columns above columns 9 to 15 have ten preprinted markings and entries 88 to 93 could represent any number actual or representing as a code certain information. Switching from letters to numerals as well as any division in the numeral sequence can be made by means of additional markings 94 to 96. In the example. of FIG. 7 the employee Schmidt has the identification number 238 and he works in the foundry department 930.

Various combinations of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 may be made as desired, as can various other embodiments. Each of the modifications shown comprise essentially similar attributes in marking of entries location, etc., and differ in so far as described.

be employed in any Alpha-Numeric automatic data processor, calculator, bookkeeping machine, and other read-out machine adapted to handle card input; it being only necessary to adapt that equipment to the specific size and arrangement of data input present by the card of the present invention.

The present invention may of course be used to provide card input of information of any type and is not necessarily limited to time cards.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine readable time card for use in a system employing a time clock and said time'card, the time card having two different types of columns defining given information including a plurality of columns of a first type dispersed in parallel relationship with each other for receiving indicia which represent by their positions in the columns the beginnings and ends of time intervals and at least one column of a second type which is parallel to the indicia receiving columns, the second type of column comprising a series of machine readable indicia in predetermined positions on the card and forming a scale which may be counted with reference to which the spacings between indicia in a column of the first type can be evaluated.

2. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined interval at which the indicia are arranged corresponds to a predetermined work schedule.

3. The time card in accordance with claim 2 wherein for predetermined pauses in the work schedule no indicia is provided.

4. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance between successive intervals of indicia varres.

5. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance between successive intervals is uniform.

6. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia comprises an optical impression applied to said card.

7. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia comprises magnetic means applied to said card.

8. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia comprises a mechanical contact applied to said card.

9. The time card according to claim 1 wherein the columns are arranged on both sides of said card.

10. A method of reading a time card as defined in claim 1 comprising the steps of scanning a column of the first type and the second type simultaneously with means responsive to the machine readable indicia of the column of the second type and t0 the indicia of the column of the first type and providing an output which represents the number of marks of the second type in the spacing between successive marks in the column of the first type. 

1. A machine readable time card for use in a system employing a time clock and said time card, the time card having two different types of columns defining given information including a plurality of columns of a first type dispersed in parallel relationship with each other for receiving indicia which represent by their positions in the columns the beginnings and ends of time intervals and at least one column of a second type which is parallel to the indicia receiving columns, the second type of column comprising a series of machine readable indicia in predetermined positions on the card and forming a scale which may be counted with reference to which the spacings between indicia in a column of the first type can be evaluated.
 2. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined interval at which the indicia are arranged corresponds to a predetermined work schedule.
 3. The time card in accordance with claim 2 wherein for predetermined pauses in the work schedule no indicia is provided.
 4. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance between successive intervals of indicia varies.
 5. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance between successive intervals is uniform.
 6. The time card in accordance with claiM 1 wherein the indicia comprises an optical impression applied to said card.
 7. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia comprises magnetic means applied to said card.
 8. The time card in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicia comprises a mechanical contact applied to said card.
 9. The time card according to claim 1 wherein the columns are arranged on both sides of said card.
 10. A method of reading a time card as defined in claim 1 comprising the steps of scanning a column of the first type and the second type simultaneously with means responsive to the machine readable indicia of the column of the second type and to the indicia of the column of the first type and providing an output which represents the number of marks of the second type in the spacing between successive marks in the column of the first type. 